Lateral-propulsion means for motor-vehicles.



H. A. SHELION. LATERAL PROPULSION MEANS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

r v APPLICATION FIILEDV APR. 2. m7.

' 4 SHEETSSHEET I.

Patented Sept. 3

H. A. SHELTON 'LAIERA L PROPULSION MEANS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

' APPLiCATlQf-i HLED mm. m rel-1..

4 SHEETS SHEET 2.

. I Ill In...

Patented Sept. 3, 1918.

Patlited Sept. 3 v

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

H. A. SHELTON.

' LATERAL PROPULSION MEANS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED- APR. 2. 1917. 1,278,040,

lllllllll III/I H. A. SHELTON.

. LATERAL PROPULSION MEANS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES;

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2.1917.

Patented Sept.

4 T E E H 4 s T E E H S 4 fl I R m m a m HARRISON A. S HELTON,QF'PASADENA, CALIFORNIA.

LATERAL-PROPULSION xvi sans roe Moron-vitamins.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. s, 1918.

Application filed April 2, 1917. 'S'erialNo. 160,872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRISON Aj S HEL- 'J'ON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Pasadena, .in the county of Los Angeles and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and useful Improvement inLaterallropulsion Means for Motor-Vehicles, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to motor vehicles and particularly to meansattachable to such vehicles for moving the sanie'laterally for shortdistances to and away from the curb line of the street in congesteddistricts where 'it is frequently impossible or very diiiicult tootherwise drive the vehicle into positions between other vehicles bymeans of the ordi' nary forward driving means.

It is a primary object, therefore, of my in-' vention to provide aseries of traction units which may be readily attached to and de-'tached from the front and rear axles of such vehicles and connected withthe usual transmission means of the engine or motor for operation bypower from the engine; said units being arranged to. operate in planesat right angles to the other tract1on wheels of the vehicle, so as tomove the vehicle, at

will, laterally.

A further object of this invention is to provide means for readilyassociating and disassociating the lateral traction units from the powerplant of the vehicle and for rendering the lateral traction units onopposite sides of the vehicle differential relative to each other.

. A further object is to provide means for supporting the lateraltraction units in planes substantially alined with the planes of theaxles when said units are inoperative and for lowering and raising saidunits to and from operating positions.

A further object is to provide means whereby the lateral traction-unitsmay be utilized for supporting the weightof the vehicle iii of theground for the purpose of changing the tires of the longitudinaltraction wheels, or for other purposes. Other objects may appear as thedescription pro-' gresses.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the vehiclerunning gear sh'owmg one side thereof equipped with my rmproved lateraltraction units and the operating means therefor. Fig. 2 1s a sideelevation of the sanie. Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of one of theassembled traction units shown in position on one of the vehicle axles.Fig. 4: is an elevation of a portion of the same at right angles to Fig.3. Fig. 5 is a plan of one of said units in operative position. Fig.

'6 is a rear elevation of the upper portion of the unit shown in Fig. 3.Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of the lower portion of one of theunits. I

Fig. 8 is a section of the lower portion of one unit in a plane at rightangles to Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a plan, partly in section, of the elementsshown in Figs. 7 and 8 and Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation of the sameon the line w-w. of Fig. 9. Fig. 10 is a plan, partly broken away, ofthe upper member of one of the traction units; Fig. 11 is a sectionalthe screw locking keys for the members shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12. i

Fig. 13 is a plan of the operating mechanism for connecting the tractionunits with the engine and a portion the running gear frame. Fig. 14 isan elevation of the same. Fig. 15 is a longitudinal elevation of thedriving shafts supporting means shown" in Figs. 1.3 and 14. Fig. 16 is atransverse section of one of 'the driving shafts and rlutchoperatingmeans therefor, and Fig.

17 is a similar section of the other driving shatt and clutch operatingmeans therefor.

-Similar characters of reference are employed throughout thespecification and in the several views of the drawings for indicatinethe same or like parts.

Each of my lateral traction units comprises an upper halved member Awhich-has a ring like extension 1 formed on the top and adapted to bepivotally supported on the extended ends of the axles 2. or 3, as thecase may be; and a lowerhalved member 13 which is supported movably onthe member A by means oi four screws 4. 5,6, and 7 and is adapted tovertical movement relative to the member A.

The two parts of the meml'iers A and B are suitably secured together bymeans of screws or bolts 8 and 9, respectively, which are extendedthrough lugs 10 and 11, respectively, formed on these members. A

bracket C is provided for each ofthe tree-- 4 tion units which has apair of bored extenand collar second to the axles 2 and 3 bymeans ofscrews 14%, or otherwise, for supporting the driving mechanism for thetraction units.

A short drive emit 15 provided for each unit which isijournnled in abearing in an arm 15 of the brncket md curries ll, bevel gear 1? on theinner side of this arm ad- ]ucent to the axles 2 and 3. A spur gear JRcarried by the shaft 15, in. each case, and is adapted to rotatetherewith and to drive a gear 19 attached to the parallel shaft :0 whichis journaled in an extension on he bracket C, u worm 2:2 being attachedto the outer end of the shaft 21 over the center of the axles 2 and 3,which meshes with a sector formed on the extension 1. A bevel 24: isloosely supported on the axles of the vehicle between theEX'iZGHSlC'l'lS 12 and 13 of the bracket 1 and this gear meshes with andis driven by the gear ill" on the shaft The opposite end of shaft has a,coneclutch member which engaged by another clutch member 26 adapted torotate with the shaft and which is held in frictional engagenle with themember by means of a ,5 22' which held. in tension between the hub ofthe member.

Lttacliedto the shaft Tillie and clutch member 25 are loosely held onthe shaft 15 while the member tight tl'iereon, so that the gear andclutch member are thus driven entirely by friction between the twoclutch members, for reasons which will hereizmfter appear.

The lower portion of the member A of each unit has a relatively largecounierbore or 29 to receive and house a large spur gear 30 whichrotutably held therein on vertical shaft 31. this shaft being one tendedn; .vardly above the top of the member A mid provided illereui'love withit bowl gear 32 of th character and, v

17 on the l r dri w the large you The screws 1. members A and of are prowith pinions 33 at the top tlwreof and the threads thereon are ofsubstantially wide face and of rectangular cross section Iillll thee'riphorice of the threads have g'cur troll: '54- Iormed thereon whichere zilineil with the teeth on the pinions 33 and mesh with the commongear 30 in the member A and are rotated by this gear. The lower portionsof two of the screws in each unit, 4 and as shown, have worms 3;; formedthereon or attuchcd thereto within the member P) and the lower ends of al of these screws are extended through the members B and held againstvertical movmnent by menus of collars 36 and nuts 3'? thereon, s shownin The screws 6 and 7, as shown, have no Worms or threads in the membersB.

A clearance space is providedon each of the screws above the upper sideof the member B and below the pinions 33 near the tops of the screws, asshown in igs. 3 and 11, and one or more keys 38 are attached to theexteriors of the screw sockets 39 of the member i by means of screws 40extending through lugs 4] on the keys and into the body of the sockets,shown in Figs. 11 and 1:2. The keys have extensions 42'with curved upperand lower faces, as shown in Fig. 11*, which fit into the threads on thescrews 4, 5, i3 and T and serve the same function in the sockets as :1single thread. The curve of the keys reduces the width of the edges sothat the keys may readily enter the space between the toothed threads onthe screws, on imlicated by broken lines in Fig. 11 Thus, when the driveshaft 15 of each unit rotated, hereinafter described, the gear 30 inthe. members A of each unit will rotate the screws 4, 5, (5 and 7 bymeans of their intcr-meshing teeth, and the screws will be threadedeither downwardly or upwardly through the members A, as the case may be.The rotary movement of the screws in such case either raises or lowersthe members B of each unit, as the lower portions of the members B aresecured to the screws between the worms thereon and the nuts at thebottoms of the screws.

l Vhen the members B are thus raised 11 wardly to COnlIflCt with thebottoms of tile incn'ibcrs vA. screws above the tops of the members Bwill register with the keys 38 and though the screws may then be furtherrotated, the members A and B will be held in Contact withoutdamage tothe screws. Similarly, when the members B a re lowered to the fullestextent of their movement, the pinions 3 on the upper ends of the screwswill mesh Willi 2% m -lo the clearance spaces ow me pi n is willregister d and the further rotation we screws n'uty be :ux-omplishodwithout iuunushing t! 5 pinious 33 from the gear 30.

Earl; of the uwmbors B carries n relatively smell traction wheel 4.4with a rubber lire held thereon and these wheels are loosely mounted onshafts 4b which are journnlrd in the sides of the members B, :1 centralrecess 47 being formed in each nmmlmr for the wheel to rotate andthrough which it extends, as shown in Figs. 3, 7 and 9. A pair of wormgears 48 are provided in each of the members B on opposite sides of thewheels 44, which are fixed t0 the shafts 46 and mesh with and are drivenby the worms 35 on the screws 4 and 5. The wheels More provided withinternal ratchets 49 on the opposite sides of the central Webs flmreofand which are secured to the rims of the wheels in any suitable manner.Arms 50 are fixed to the shafts 4.6 so as to rotate the clearance spaceson the.

pivotally supported awls 51 for engage ment with the teeth the ratchets,as shown in Fig. 9, the pawls being held in engage.-

ment with the rachetsby means of springs 52 suitably attached to thearms and resting against the inner sides of the pawls.

It willbe observed that when the screws I 4, 5, 6 and 7 are rotated inone direction, the

wheels 44 will be rotated by means of the worm gears and ratchetmechanism described, while if ,the screws are reversely turned, thewheels will either remain statitgnaiiy or they mabe turned in anopposite direction without amageto the worm gears.

ower is communicated to the individual drive shafts 15 by means oflongitudinal shafts 53 leading to the front axle units and 5; leading tothe units on the rear axle,

universal joints 54 bein employed for connecting the drive shaft eements together, as, shown in Figs. 1 and' 2. The adjacent ends of theshafts 53 and 5d are connected as shown with a short longitudinal shafton each side of the vehicle which shaft carworm 57 on each side of thevehicle is fixed to orformed on the outer ends of the shafts 61 or 62which are alined transversely of the, frame and supported at their outerends in bearings 63 on the brackets 59 and at their inner ends inbearings 64 in the brackets 5 which are suitably attached to the transverse frame member 66.

The inner ends of the transverse shafts 61 and 62 are provided,respectively with gears 67 and 68 which mesh with and are driven by theengine fiy Wheel 69, in the rear edge of the rim of which teeth areformed, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the gears 67 and .68 being looselymounted on their respective shafts. Gears 70 and 71 which are similar insize to those 67 and 68 are loosely mounted on the shafts 61 and 62,respectively, at points near the bearings 63 of the brackets 59.Thebrackets 65 have bearings 7 2 and 73, respectively, above and belowthe shafts 61 and 62. in which shafts 7 at and 75, respectively, arerevolnblvsupported and on the ends of the shafts 74 and 75,respectively, gears 7 6 and 77 and 78 and 79 are provided'for rotationwith the shafts.- The gears 76 and 77 on shaft 74 mesh,

respectively, with gears 67 and Hon the shafts 6i and 62, respectively.-The gears 78 and 79 on shaft mesh, respectively,

. with gears 70 and (58 on shafts 61 and-62,

respectively.

Gears 67, 68, .70 and 71 have clutch members .80, 81, 82 and83,'respectively, formed thereon or attach-flthereto, which have conJcal recesses formed therein. An intermediate clutch member 8% 1Sshdably supported on the shaft 61 between members 80 and 82 and isadapted to rotate therewith by means of a key or feather 85, this memberhaving an annular groove midway of its ends and the ends thereof beingtapered to conform to the conical recesses in the clutch members 80 and82. The member 84 is normally out of engagement with the members 80 andS2 and may be selectively engaged therewith by means of an operatingmember 86 which has a yoke 87 at the bottom carrying a pair of rollers38 on opposite sides of and for engagement with the annular groove inthe center of the member 8%. The lower endsof the yol e87 are pivoted toopposite sides of a loose collar 8!.) on the shaft 75 and this collarisheld against longitudinal movement on the shaft by means of setcollars 90 on opposite ends of the collar 89. Thus the movement of theoperating member 86 will effect the movement of the central clutchmember 84 lmigitud-inally of the shaft 61 for engagement with either ofthe clutch members 80 or 82; and as motion is thus communicated fromopposite points on the fly Wheel rim, the shaft 61 may be rotated indifferent directions, selectively, by the movement of the clutch member84, as described.

A clutch member 91, which is similar to the member 84 on shaft (31, issimilarly mounted on the shaft 62 and 'is' capable of' rotation with itsshaft by meansofa key or feather 92. This member is positioned on theshaft between the conical clutch members 81 and 83 attached to or formedon the gears (58 and 71.- rcspectively. An

operating member 93 is provided for the member 91 which has a yoke 94with ends 95 carrying-rollers 96 for engagement with the annular groovein the center of the member 91, the upper portion of this member beingpivoted to a collar 96 on th e'shaft 74 between set collars 9(). as inthe case of the operating niembor'dfi for the clutch member 84, justdescribed.

The upper end of the operatingmember 93 is pivoted to one end of a link97 which extends transversely of the frame abovothe shaft 74 to a pointabove the gcar7l3 where it'is pivotally connected with a lever 98 hav-'ing a yoke 99 formed on the lower end thereof which is pivotallyattached to one of the bearings 72 of the shaft 74, so that theoperating handle thereof will occupy thesame longitudinal plane of thehandle for the ophandle may be operated separately when it 'worms andscrews on opposite sides lilting all of the traction wheels in onetliTQCi-lfilh on reversely, n'iay be desired. it "a essential that thelead of the threads on vehicle should be in one direction for operatingmembers are capable of movement in both directions and elasticity actionis thus arovided.

In the initial operation, let it be asscn'ie that the units areoccupying their norms horizontal positions, substantially in planes ofthe vehicle axles with the memh r-- A and B of each unit in closecontact the screws 4, 5, 6 and 7 extended upwan on opposite sides of theaxles. he operating members are moved trar 2' in the proper directionand the clutches r; the shafts 61 and 62 are thus engz god. it tion isimparted to all of the mechanism, the shafts 15 are caused to tate, thusrotating the bevel 17, 94 32, the large spur gears 30 in each and thescrews 4, 5, 6 and 7 are also rotated and begin to thread their wayldownwardlg:

through the members A, thus lowering the members B from contacttherewith. The worms 22 of each unit are simultaneousl i rotated bymeans of the connections described, and by their connection with thesectors 23 on the extensions 1 of the mem bers A, each entire unit.including the in v here A, B, screws 4:, 5, (S and 'i' and th tionwheels in member B are a lowered until the screws occu 'iy ve positionsand the upper sides of the bers A come into contact with the portion ofthe bracket C, as shown g. 3, whereupon the movement of the l unitsaround the axis of the axles 2 and is stopped and the same will be heldimmovably in vertical positions beneath the axles of the vehicle. Thestoppage of this movement. also stops the movement of the worms 22 andduring any further movement of the screws and other rotating par thespring actuated clutch lo-28, will i The main operating clutches may bein engagement until the base memher.--' J h each unit has been extendedrlownwamiii' its fullest extent, such action serving: to s the vehicleentirely from the mild in same manner as that LICCOIIllAllSlli-Xl h twoon the other direction while the rein either case may be Act-ion oftravel of the thought that two power i be smfhcient in any event to movethe vehicle other away from the tood that the ratchet all tractionwheels, as for communicating s in but a single dihe s eels are releasedfor than in, an opposite direction. i a more complicated i i am, andfurther, it is es-- g the movement of the ttiw'zi screws should turn innot a irection, for otherwise, during reve HlOVPlw t thereof, the screwsd the vehicle to the ground and 'ibiects of the invention.

on units are restored to ersing the operating the units to horizonvahicle, and extend- The downward n3 4, 5, 6 arc 7 is which engage thepinions 33, and the upeiit .hcreof is limited by means most of themembers B with i o? shown in Fi'gwlii and 21;; motion to the nnit'driving be urde ood to provide foraud reve se motion for both of the c1and 32, the gears 67 and 68 M'Oll by Olf'lPC'Hll'fi sides of the flywheeliinc, and the 70 and 71 are l an opposite direction iort thedriving mechae so that the vibrado of positive rotation.

heels by contact with the n e power for moving the Wheels, for 1n-'npfported rigidly on theoositiln, indicated in broken lifting tion' andrebounding of the frame on the" springs will in no way ali'ect themeshing of the gears with the fly wheel, and the universally jointeddriving shafts at the sides of the vehicle amply" compensate for anysuch movement.

It is preferable that the traction units should be supported on theaxles of the vehicle at points directly under the springs but this isnot in all cases possible, and li have therefore shown the units mountedat the outside of the springs, but the same may be suitably mountedinside-of the springs or at other convenient points on the axles.

It will be recognized that the structure shown herein will no doubt bemodified to suitdiilerent conditions, but it, is conceived to be ossibleto substantially alter the structure rom the form shown withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention or enlarqing the scopethereof.

what I claim is: 1. Lateral propulsion means for motor vehiclescomprising incombination with the running gear and frame, laterallyoperating traction wheels-0n opposite portions of the vehicle axles,supporting means therefor capable of, being pivotally raised andloweredinto operating position, and forward and reverse gearing operablyconnecting the traction wheels with the en ine, said gearing includingscrew and gear elements for lifting and driving said wheels.

2.'Lateral propulsion means for motor Vehicles comprising laterallyoperated tree-- wheels with said countershaftior operation in oppositedirections, each of'said Wheels having a plurality of screw threadedgears for rendering the Wheels operative.

4;. Lateral propulsion means for motor vehicles comprising combinedlifting andpropulsion screws mounted near the main traction wheels ofthe vehicle, each of said screwscomprising separable body elements, oneof said body elements being stationarily supported on the vehiclerunning gear, and the other of said body elements being movable relativethereto, a traction wheel mounted in each oi said movable body elementsaving thus described my invention,

and'gearing connecting the vehicle motor and said traction wheels andjournaled in said body elements for lifting the main traction wheels ofthe vehicle from contact with the ground, and propelling said lateraltraction wheels, as set forth.

5. Lateral propulsion means for motor vehicles comprising a bodyvmemberpivotally suspended fromthe vehicle axle, a plu-' rality of liftingscrews having gears formed thereon and journaled in said body member,gearing connecting said screws with the vehicle engine, a' relativelymovable body member supported on the extended ends of said screws, :1traction wheel revolubly supported in said movable body member andadapted to be driven by said screws,

and means for connecting and disconnecting said gearing at will.

6. Lateral propulsion means for motor vehicles comprising a set of powerdriven screw threaded lifting and driving gears supporteclon. thevehicle axles, means for applying power /at will to said gears and forsimultaneously moving the same into op erative position, and a tractionwheel operable by each set of said; screws, as so forth.

7. A. lateral propulsion device for motor vehicles comprising astationary and amovable housing normally in engagement suspended fromthe axle of the vehicle, traction means on said movable housing, andcombined lifting and driving gearing'for spacing said movable housingrelative'to said stationary housing and for operating said traction.means.

8. Lateral propulsion means for motor vehicles comprising a plurality ofpower operated combined lifting and driving screws supported on thevehicle axle, a relatively stationary and a movable-member thereon, atraction element supported on said movable meinber, and means forimparting power from said screws to said traction element.

9. Lateral propulsion means for motor vehicles comprising main andauxiliary traction wheels arranged for rotation in relativelyrightangular planes, and gearing for operably connecting said auxiliaryWheels with the engine and including a plurality of helical lifting anddriving gears for raising and lowering said auxiliary wheels into andfrom operating position, and for driving said wheels when the same arelowered.

10. Lateral propulsion means formotor vehicles comprisingrelativelystationary and movable'members supported on the vehicle axles screwsoperably connecting said members, traction wheels supported on saidmovable members, and gearing acting upon the peripheries of the threadsof said screws for rotating said traction Wheels.

11. Lateral propulsion means for motor -.emcies comprising relativelystationary.

and movable members supported on the vehicle axles, a traction wheelsupported on each of said movable members, and screw threaded gearsconnecting said Wheels with the engine, means for spacing said membersand rotating said wheels.

12 A power communicating device includlng relatively stationary andmovable bodies, a driving element in one of said bodies, a drivenelement in the other of said bodies, and screw means connecting saidbodies and having gear teeth formed on the face of the threads thereoffor mesh with said driving element.

18. A power communicating device in cluding a driving element and adriven ole-- ment, and screw means ope ably cornice-ting said elementsand having gear teeth of uni form pitch diameter formed on the face ofthe threads thereof for mesh with said driving element.

14. A power communicating device including substantially spaced drivingand driven elements, said driven elei'nent being; movable relative tosaid driving element, and a threaded. gear of uniform pitch diameter foroperably connecting said eie merits.

15. A power transmission device including a driving gear, a drivenelement movable relativethereto, and means consisting of screwshavinggear teeth of Uniform pitch diameter formed on the threads thereoffor operably connecting said driving and driven elements.

16. A power transmission device including relatively movable driving anddriven elements, and common screw threaded gear means of uniform pitchdiameter ior moving said elements apart and rotating driven element.

17. A power transmission device inclnd ing relatively stationary andmovabie dr v ing and driven elements pivotally held tor movementtogether about a common axis, and common screw threaded gear means ofuniform pitch diameter for spacing said elements apart and rotating saiddriven element.

18. A power transmission device including primary driving meansconnected with a source of power, secondary driving means operablethereby, driven meansoperabie at a point remote from said driving screwthreaded gear means of uniform pitch d1- amctcl'. and combined means forspacing said driven means relative to said secondary driving means andfor rotating said driven.

means.

19. A power transmission device including primary driving means andsecondary driving means operated thereby, a driven ele: ment movablysupported relative to sa d secondary means, screws operated by said'parail-ei with the an secondary means for moving said driven elementative to said secondary means,

gears formed on the threads of said screws for rotating said drivenelement.

n. power iZnTlSmlSflOn device including a source of power, forward andgearing leading therefrom, a plnrali v of driving elements connectedwith said earing, a driven e ement spaced from and movably supp drivingelements, and screw threaded ing oi'ni connecting said driving anddriven elements ioirotation.

21. A power transmission device including a source or" power, forwardand reverse gearing leading therefrom, means for con.- necti n51 "1ddisconnecting said gearing reiative to said source of power, relativelymovable driving and driven elements connected therewith, and elongatedscrew threaded of uniform. pitch diameter operably said driving anddriven eic manta, said gears iiavin threads cut therein by meanselements may be spaced apart.

A power transmission device iacludin rted. reiativc to each said 7 i"which sai driving and driven torm pitch diameter for commonly a shaftiihe element a spiral thread oi imiform diameter thsrearound, said readihav ing gear teeth fanned thereon.

23. transmission device including a shaft like element having screwthreaded gear teeth of uniform diameter formed thereon parallel withaxis thereof and extending in spiral tears-e through ut portion oi thelength ti A -"rower ta er"? ing driving and shaft gear "with icecomprisi n iing a prising; a body ha i .rsmg the periphery thereoi ii: aspun-i course and of uniform diameter.

25. A mechanical increment comprising a driving element and a spirallytl'n'eaded driven eiement having teeth oi uniform diameter intermeshingwitlicach other. one of said element-s lacinga'dapted to besimultaneously revolved and moved longitudinally as said elements areoperated together.

21;. A transmission device including a driving element, a plurality ofdriven elements meshing therewith. and spirally formed gear means ofuniform diameter formed on said driven elements for moving the samelongitudinally as the said elements are operated together.

28. A transmission device including a driving element and supportingmeans therefor, driven meshing therewith, traction spiral gear means ofuniform diameter operated by said driven means, and means formed on saiddriven means for moving ameter interposed between said driving 12 saidtraction means relative to said drlvmg means and said traction elementsfor rotatelexnent during the rotation of said driving. ing and movingsaid traction elements relaand driven elements. tiy'e to said drivingelement during the r0- 29. A transmission device including ciriv' tationthereof. P

i g means supported on the vehieie axles HARRISON A. SHELTON.

ncigeared for operetion by-the engine, trac- Witnesses:

tioil elements supported in proximity there- RUTH A. SHELTON .to, and tospiral gear means of uniffm fii- J. D. HASKIN.

